A Sermon Series on the Book of 2 Kings- Some Observations

Friends: I’m looking forward to doing a series of three sermons on the book of 2 Kings in April for my friends at Cedarcroft Bible Chapel in South Plainfield, NJ. We have given a brief summary of each of the twenty-five chapters of this Old Testament book. Here are a few observations that occur to me (I’ll repeat my observations after the following blocks, but in a larger font!):

Some comments on 2 Kings:
1. There are a multitude of persons in this book. Many of the names are of the kings of Israel and Judah.

2. God specifies which kings followed Him (very few!) and which pursued idolatry and the practices of the nations the Lord drove out of the Promised Land.
Hezekiah: Here in 2 Kings 18 we’re told of Hezekiah beginning to reign in Judah. He did what was right in the Lord’s eyes, just as his father David had done. He removed the high places (did other kings, ever?), cut down the Asherah poles, broke into pieces the bronze snake Moses had made (remember Num. 16?). It had become an idol (Nehushtan) (v. 4). He trusted in the Lord; no one like him before or after;

3. We get some memorable expressions in this book such as:
a. “Is it because there is no God in Israel that you are going off to consult Baal-Zebub, the god of Ekron”? (1:3).
b. “a double portion of [Elijah’s] spirit” (2:9).
c. “If he had asked you to do some great thing, would you not have done it?” (ch. 5).
d. “those who are with us are more than those who are with them” (6:16).
e. “What we’re doing is not right. This is a day of good news and we are keeping it to ourselves” (7:9).
f. “Come with me and see my zeal for the Lord” (10:16- Jehu).
g. “They followed worthless idols and themselves became worthless.” (17:15).
h. 21 Look, I know you are depending on Egypt, that splintered reed of a staff, which pierces the hand of anyone who leans on it! Such is Pharaoh king of Egypt to all who depend on him. (Ch. 18)

4. The first eight (?) chapters chronicle the miracles of Elishah who has the supernatural gifts of prophecy, etc.
List of his miracles? (ch. 4-multiplying olive oil; prediction of a son; raising dead son; deadly stew; multiplying loaves). Ch. 5- Naaman’s leprosy; supernatural knowledge of Gehazi’s lies! Elisha knew the king of Aram’s pillow talk! (ch. 6). Strikes an army with blindness (ch. 6), then with the removal of the blindness. Supernatural knowledge (ch. 6). Knowledge of the future (ch. 7 re food; ch 8 re a coming famine).

5. There are parallels with the New Testament:
a. Elijah’s garment of hair and a leather belt, a foreshadow of JTB.
b. Gehazi’s impotence re the dead son (ch. 4) vs. the disciples’ not being able to cast out demons.
c. multiplying loaves ch. 4 with leftovers!
What do these miracles tell us? They tell us that Elisha’s God is powerful. He will use what we have available (even a small jar of olive oil). He can overcome the restrictions of old age and barrenness. He has the power to raise the dead to life. He can turn deadly stew into a decent meal. And He can multiply whatever we give him beyond our wildest dreams!
Man thrown into Elisha’s tomb comes back to life! (ch. 13).
d. causing an ax head to float (ch. 6).
e. warning the king to avoid the army of Aram (ch. 6).
6. We get some dramatic acts of God’s judgment:
a. two 50-men battalions are consumed by fire (ch. 1).
b. 42 mocking boys are mauled by two bears in ch. 2.
In Samaria Jehu kills all who remained of Ahab’s family “acc. to the word of the Lord spoken to Elijah” (10:17). So these slaughters were in God’s will! And he is commended by the Lord: 30 The Lord said to Jehu, “Because you have done well in accomplishing what is right in my eyes and have done to the house of Ahab all I had in mind to do, your descendants will sit on the throne of Israel to the fourth generation.”)
7. ABOUT GOD WE LEARN —
a. He can act in great judgment when He chooses to do so (ch. 1).
b. He is sometimes unwilling to forgive (ch. 24?).
c. filling the valley with pools of water “is an easy thing in the eyes of the Lord” (3:18).
d. He can cure leprosy (Naaman) and inflict leprosy on a person (Gehazi) (ch. 5; ch. 15)).
e. hates UNBELIEF (ch. 7).
f. uses lepers to rescue the Israelites from starvation (ch. 7).
g. Kings like Jehoahaz cause the Lord’s anger to burn against Israel (13:3).
h. God responds to repentance (13:5).
i. He keeps His covenant w/ A, I, and J because of His grace (ch. 13).
j. God uses imperfect instruments
k. God gives reasons why He brings judgment: “7All this took place because the Israelites had sinned against the Lord their God, who had brought them up out of Egypt from under the power of Pharaoh king of Egypt. They worshiped other gods 8 and followed the practices of the nations the Lord had driven out before them, as well as the practices that the kings of Israel had introduced. 9 The Israelites secretly did things against the Lord their God that were not right.” (ch. 17)
l. God is so angry with His people that he “thrust them from his presence” (ch. 17).
m. God sent lions among the Assyrians who did not worship the Lord (17:25). In ch. 19 the angel of the Lord put to death 185,000 Assyrians!
n. the Lord has an ordained plan (ch. 19).
o. the Lord can add 15 years to a person’s life (ch. 20).
p. God can change time — shadow going back (20:11).
q. there are degrees of sin: Manasseh causes Judah to do more evil than the nations the Lord had destroyed before the Israelites (21:9).
r. God can spare a faithful servant from seeing disaster that is coming (ch. 22).
s. the sins of Manasseh were so grievous that “the Lord was not willing to forgive” (24:4). 20 It was because of the Lord’s anger that all this happened to Jerusalem and Judah, and in the end he thrust them from his presence. (24:20).

8. There is great concern on the part of the writer of 2 Kings that this book is historical (references to “the annals of the kings of Israel”- ch. 1, etc.).
Elisha gets involved in politics (has Jehu anointed as king, ch. 9).
An amazing reference to JONAH! (ch. 14).

9. We learn a bit about the afterlife as Elijah is taken up into heaven (ch. 2).

10. Practical Christian lessons:
a. faithfulness in sticking with Elijah (ch. 2).
b. some dramatic things happen in the course of normal life (2:11).
c. the power of greed: Gehazi (ch. 5)
d. the power of pride (Naaman- ch. 5).
e. the value of showing mercy to one’s enemies (ch. 6).
f. a failure to trust God (Elisha to Jehoash, striking ground only 3X (ch. 13).
g. Idols are not easy to remove! (ch. 15, etc.).
h. spreading out letters before the Lord in prayer (Hezekiah, ch. 19).
i. prayer can add 15 years to a person’s life! (ch. 20).
j. faithfulness and trustworthiness in money matters (ch. 22).
k. great joy in finding the Book of the Law (ch. 22).
l. we must work hard at removing the idols from our lives (ch. 23) – Keller’s Counterfeit Gods.
m. with all of Josiah’s reforms the Lord still does not turn from his anger ‘coz of what Manasseh had done (23:27).
n. sometimes mercy is shown by those far from God: When Awel-Marduk became king of Babylon, he released Jehoiachin king of Judah. “28 He spoke kindly to him and gave him a seat of honor higher than those of the other kings who were with him in Babylon. 29 So Jehoiachin put aside his prison clothes and for the rest of his life ate regularly at the king’s table. 30 Day by day the king gave Jehoiachin a regular allowance as long as he lived.” (ch. 25).

11. We are introduced to “the company of the prophets” (ch. 2).

12. We get a reference to music therapy (ch. 3).

13. This book is not reticent about gross things: detailing the atrocities of warfare (ch. 3, for example). Woman eating her son (ch. 6). Jezebel puts on makeup, is thrown out of a window by a couple of eunuchs, and her body becomes like dung on the ground (ch. 9). In chapter 10 we have the heads of 70 sons of Ahab brought to Jehu and piled at the city gate (Jehu says to the people that the Lord has done what he said he would through his servant Elijah (v. 10).

Jehu deceptively cuts down the servants of Baal, demolishing the sacred stone of Baal and people use the Baal temple today as a latrine! (10:18-27).
Ahaz sacrificed his son in the fire (ch. 16-engaging in the detestable practices of the nations the Lord had driven out before the Israelites; see also 17:17). Some burned their children in the fire (17:31).
The commander replies: “Was it only to your master and you that my master sent me to say these things, and not to the people sitting on the wall—who, like you, will have to eat their own excrement and drink their own urine?” (Ch. 18)
14. There is at least one example of spiritual warfare (3:27).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A Sermon Series on the Book of 2 Kings- Ch. 25

Friends: I will be doing a series of three sermons on the book of 2 Kings in April for my friends at Cedarcroft Bible Chapel in South Plainfield, NJ. So I want to go chapter by chapter through this Old Testament book. With you! I’ll put the chapter in the post and give a few comments of my own under the text.  Comments always welcome! Let’s dive in!

My notes:

Here we are in 2 Kings 25. So, here we are at the end of the book of 2 Kings. What do we learn from this last chapter, chapter 25? For two years Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon lays siege to Jerusalem. A famine took place, the city wall was breached, the whole army fled, the king was captured (v. 6).

Before the king of Babylon Zedekiah’s sons were killed before Zedekiah’s eyes. They then put out his eyes & took him to Babylon (v. 7).

Nebuzaradan was commander of the imperial guard. He set fire to the temple of the Lord, the palace, and all the important buildings (v. 9). The walls around Jerusalem are all broken down; the people are carried into exile. The poorest are left to work the vineyards & the fields (v. 12).

All the utensils of the temple were taken or broken up. Some details are given about the two pillars which Solomon made for the temple.

The king of Babylon had various officers and priests executed. We read, “So Judah went into captivity, away from her land” (v. 21).

Gedaliah was appointed by Nebuchadnezzar to be over the people left behind in Judah. He advises the people to settle down in the land and serve the king of Babylon — and it will go well with you (v. 24).

When Awel-Marduk became king of Babylon, he released Jehoiachin king of Judah. “28 He spoke kindly to him and gave him a seat of honor higher than those of the other kings who were with him in Babylon. 29 So Jehoiachin put aside his prison clothes and for the rest of his life ate regularly at the king’s table. 30 Day by day the king gave Jehoiachin a regular allowance as long as he lived.”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A Sermon Series on the Book of 2 Kings- Ch. 24

Friends: I will be doing a series of three sermons on the book of 2 Kings in April for my friends at Cedarcroft Bible Chapel in South Plainfield, NJ. So I want to go chapter by chapter through this Old Testament book. With you! I’ll put the chapter in the post and give a few comments of my own under the text.  Comments always welcome! Let’s dive in!

My notes:

Here we are in 2 Kings 24. Here in 2 Kings 24 we see that Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon invades Judah, making Jehoiakim his vassal for three years. Jehoiakim rebels. “2 The Lord sent Babylonian, Aramean, Moabite and Ammonite raiders against him to destroy Judah, in accordance with the word of the Lord proclaimed by his servants the prophets.” This was punishment for the sins of Manasseh, esp. the shedding of innocent blood “and the Lord was not willing to forgive” (v. 4).

Jehoiachin succeeds Jehoiakim. The king of Babylon had defeated the king of Egypt. Jehoiachin, age 18, reigns in Jerusalem three months and did evil in God’s eyes as his father had done (v. 9).

Jerusalem is laid siege to it under Nebuchadnezzar w/ Nebuchadnezzar himself coming up to the city; Jehoiachin and all surrender to Nebuchadnezzar (v. 12). 13 As the Lord had declared, Nebuchadnezzar removed the treasures from the temple of the Lord and from the royal palace, and cut up the gold articles that Solomon king of Israel had made for the temple of the Lord. 14 He carried all Jerusalem into exile: all the officers and fighting men, and all the skilled workers and artisans—a total of ten thousand. Only the poorest people of the land were left. 15 Nebuchadnezzar took Jehoiachin captive to Babylon. He also took from Jerusalem to Babylon the king’s mother, his wives, his officials and the prominent people of the land. 16 The king of Babylon also deported to Babylon the entire force of seven thousand fighting men, strong and fit for war, and a thousand skilled workers and artisans. 17 He made Mattaniah, Jehoiachin’s uncle, king in his place and changed his name to Zedekiah.

Zedekiah, age 21, reigned in Jerusalem 11 years, doing evil in the Lord’s eyes. 20 It was because of the Lord’s anger that all this happened to Jerusalem and Judah, and in the end he thrust them from his presence. (v. 20).

Zedekiah rebels against the king of Babylon.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A Sermon Series on the Book of 2 Kings- Ch. 23

Friends: I will be doing a series of three sermons on the book of 2 Kings in April for my friends at Cedarcroft Bible Chapel in South Plainfield, NJ. So I want to go chapter by chapter through this Old Testament book. With you! I’ll put the chapter in the post and give a few comments of my own under the text.  Comments always welcome! Let’s dive in!

My notes:

Here we are in 2 Kings 23. In 2 Kings 23 we about the king of Judah, Josiah, reading the Book of the Covenant to the people and renewing the covenant in the presence of the Lord (v. 3). The people pledge themselves to the covenant.

Josiah has all the idolatrous articles removed — and burned — from the temple. (v. 7). TIM KELLER’S COUNTERFEIT GODS.

He desecrated Topheth where child sacrifices were made and burned the chariots dedicated to the sun (vv. 10-11). He smashes and cuts down all the idolatrous items of Manasseh and Solomon king of Israel (!), throwing the rubble in the Kidron Valley, covering the sites with human bones (vv. 12-14).

He demolished the high place made by Jeroboam; ground it to powder, burned the Asherah pole. He burned human bones on the altar to defile it (v. 16).

He doesn’t touch the tomb of the man of God (who is that prophet?). (v. 18). He slaughters the priests of the high places, then went back to Jerusalem (v. 20). He ordered the celebration of the Passover which had not been celebrated in the days of the judges or the days of the kings (vv. 21-23). We read: 25 Neither before nor after Josiah was there a king like him who turned to the Lord as he did—with all his heart and with all his soul and with all his strength, in accordance with all the Law of Moses.

But the Lord’s anger did not cease ‘coz of what Manasseh had done. The Lord promises to remove Judah as He had Israel from His presence and will reject Jerusalem (v. 27). King Josiah is killed in a battle with the Egyptians and the Assyrians.

Jehoahaz is made king. Reigns only 3 months; did evil in the Lord’s eyes. The Pharaoh put him in chains, imposed a levy on Judah. Eliakim is made king; named changed to Jehoiakim. Jehoahaz dies in Egypt. Jehoiakim paid Pharaoh what he demanded, reigned 11 years, and did evil in the Lord’s eyes.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Joy of Unit-Reading #50 (the Book of II Kings)

Wow. What an amazing book — the book of II Kings! There are various rulers of Israel, most of whom turned from the Lord and practiced terrible sins. God was deeply involved in supporting and, at times, punishing His people with invading armies.

I know these notes are small, but here are a couple of truths which I got from the book of II Kings —
1. It is a capital offense to consult other gods! (1:4)
2. How we envision the Lord to meet our needs often stands in the way of simple obedience (5:1ff)
3. There is a spiritual reality which is real which we normally cannot see (6:17ff).
4. The Lord is able to afflict people with disease (15:1ff), even sending lions to punish His people (17:25).
5. In His anger, the Lord thrust His people from His presence (24:20).

My prayer:  “Lord, make me aware of Your anger at idolatry and help me today to simply obey You!  In Jesus’ name.  Amen.”

 

 

Psalms of My Life (Psalm 85)

Psalm 85

For the director of music. Of the Sons of Korah. A psalm.

¹ You, Lord, showed favor to your land;
    you restored the fortunes of Jacob.
² You forgave the iniquity of your people
    and covered all their sins.^[b]
3 You set aside all your wrath
    and turned from your fierce anger.

⁴ Restore us again, God our Savior,
    and put away your displeasure toward us.
⁵ Will you be angry with us forever?
    Will you prolong your anger through all generations?
⁶ Will you not revive us again,
    that your people may rejoice in you?
⁷ Show us your unfailing love, Lord,
    and grant us your salvation.

⁸ I will listen to what God the Lord says;
    he promises peace to his people, his faithful servants—
    but let them not turn to folly.
⁹ Surely his salvation is near those who fear him,
    that his glory may dwell in our land.

¹⁰ Love and faithfulness meet together;
    righteousness and peace kiss each other.
¹¹ Faithfulness springs forth from the earth,
    and righteousness looks down from heaven.
¹² The Lord will indeed give what is good,
    and our land will yield its harvest.
¹³ Righteousness goes before him
    and prepares the way for his steps.